Exercise device

ABSTRACT

An exercise device for strengthening the pelvic muscles of a patient including a hollow body member, a stud fastening the body member to an end cap to close the interior of the body member, and a plurality of weights removably mounted to the stud to permit the device to have different weights to provide the necessary exercise for different patients and for varying the weight of the device as the pelvic muscles of the patient strengthen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pelvic muscle strengthening device and, more particularly, to such a device which includes a weight-adjusting means to permit the device to be adjusted to permit the use of the device with heavier weights as the pelvic muscles are strengthened through exercise with the device.

Strengthening the pelvic muscles through exercise is a common treatment for urinary incontinence in women. Various exercise devices have been provided in the past for this purpose. Such devices are intended to be inserted into the vagina of the patient. When the devices are inserted into the vagina, the pelvic muscles grip the device, thereby exercising the pelvic muscles. In this way, the repeated exercise over time strengthens the pelvic muscles, thereby reducing, and even eliminating, the problem of urinary incontinence.

As the pelvic muscle strengthens, devices of increased weight can be retained by the vagina. To obtain maximum benefit, it is desirable to provide an increasingly heavier device during the exercise program.

Also, of course, different women have a different starting point as to the weight of the device that can be retained in the vagina by exerting the pelvic muscles.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,363 discloses a set of devices of the same size and shape but of different weights. The proper device of the proper weight is selected for the patient, and, as the pelvic muscles of the patient strengthen, a heavier device is selected and used by the patient.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,092 discloses a set of devices of different sizes, each device capable of accommodating different weights.

While the prior art devices recognize the need for a device of this type which is capable of providing exercise for patients with different pelvic muscle strength and for patients as their pelvic muscles strengthen, the solutions in the prior art have been unduly complicated and require a multitude of different devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a single pelvic muscle exercise device having a relatively simple means to adjust the weight of the device. The device is provided with a shape that facilitates insertion into the vagina of a patient. The device is hollow and includes a stud extending into the interior of the device. The stud retains weights, and the number of weights provided on the stud determines the weight of the device so that the weight can be varied by adding or removing weights.

The device is used by testing at different weights to determine the heaviest weight of the device that can be retained in the vagina by the pelvic muscles of the patient. Once that weight has been determined, then the device with the number of weights on the stud to produce the desired weight is inserted into the vagina and retained for a predetermined time to provide the desired exercise of the pelvic muscle. As the pelvic muscle is strengthened, weights can be added to the stud within the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention can be achieved upon reference to the drawings provided herewith and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the exercise device shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the exercise device shown in FIG. 1 and with a portion shown in cross-section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the exercise device 10 as having a contoured shape to be received into the vagina (not shown) of a patient. The exercise device 10 includes a body 12 and an end cap 14 secured to the body 12. An eye 16 is formed on the cap 14 to accommodate a string 18.

As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the cap 14 is solid but is provided with an internally threaded hole 20 which receives the external threads 22 of a stud 24.

The body 12 is preferably formed of a soft rubber or plastic material and as can best be seen in FIG. 2 has a portion 26 which normally abuts the cap 14 and which closes an interior portion 27 of the body 12. As best seen in FIG. 2, weights 28 are provided to be carried on the stud 24 within the interior portion 27 and to be urged against the portion 26 of the body 12 by a spring 30.

Referring to FIG. 3, the portion 26 of the body 12 is provided with a central opening 32 with slits 34 which permit the stud 24 with the weights 28 and the spring 30 to pass through the opening 32 and into the interior portion 27 of the body 28. The spring 30 is of a length that one end engages the interior of the body 12, and the other engages the outermost weight 28.

The cap 14 is secured to the body 12 by the stud 24. Once the stud 24 with the weights 28 and the spring 30 has been inserted through the opening 32 and into the interior portion 27 of the body 12, the cap 14 is threaded on to the body 12. The stud 24 is provided with a recessed end section 34 dimensioned to capture a portion of the end wall 26 of the body 12 as can best be seen in FIG. 2 to lock the end wall 26 against the cap 14.

The weights 28 can all have the same weight, or they can be of varying weights. In any event, the weight of the device 10 that can be accommodated by a particular patient is determined by starting with a small number of weights 28 on the stud 24. The weight of the device 10 is increased by adding weights 28 to the device 10 until the patient has reached the point that she is no longer able to retain the device 10 within the vagina. The weight of the device 10 is then reduced by removing one of the weights 28. The exercise using the device 10 is then undertaken and the weight of the device 10 is gradually increased as the patient's pelvic muscles strengthen by adding weights 28 to the device 10.

As indicated, the weights 28 can all be of the same weight. This is preferred because fewer different parts are required. However, the weights 28 also could have different weights without departing from the invention.

It should be apparent that a relatively simply constructed and easily usable pelvic muscle exercise device has been provided. The device 10 includes a limited number of different parts, and changing the weight of the device has been substantially simplified over devices of the prior art.

It is also apparent that changes and modifications can be made to the exercise device disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A device for insertion into the vagina of a patient to strengthen the patient's pelvic muscles, said device comprising: a hollow body and an end cap, the body portion having an interior portion; a stud extending into said hollow body and removably attaching said end cap to said hollow body; a plurality of weights including an outermost weight carried by said stud, each weight weighing substantially the same; a spring around a portion of the stud having a length such that one end engages the interior portion of the body and the other end engages the outermost weight; and a central opening with slits in the body which permits the stud with the weights and the spring to pass through the opening and into the interior portion of the body 2-4. (canceled) 